Apple seeks support for new spaceship-like campus

May 21, 2012|Reuters

By Poornima Gupta

SAN FRANCISCO, May 21 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's chieffinancial officer is asking the residents of Cupertino,California, to support the company's new 2.8 million square footspaceship-like campus, which critics say would increase trafficand pressure city services.

In a brochure mailed last week to its neighbors in theSilicon Valley city, Apple's CFO Peter Oppenheimer asked them towrite a letter, attend a public meeting, or let the company usetheir names in support of its building plans, according to oneof the people who received it. A response card was included forrespondents to express support and comment on the plans.

The brochure included renderings and details of the project,dubbed "Campus 2", which Apple wants to build and occupy by theend of 2015. The company said in the brochure that Campus 2would be in addition to its current headquarters, which willremain at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino.

Oppenheimer touted the design and the benefits of the newcampus, saying "what's currently a sea of asphalt will betransformed into nearly 120 acres of green space."

He noted that the 126-acre campus would include woodedwalking areas, restaurants and fitness centers, but it would notbe open to the public.

The city of Cupertino is due to consider Apple's plans laterthis year, Oppenheimer said. In a public hearing on Apple's planlast September, many residents expressed concerns about theincrease in traffic and the impact of construction on the area.

Apple's plans call for a single building resembling amassive spaceship that would span 2.8 million square feet and bemore than four stories high. It will accommodate up to 13,000employees. Separate buildings for research would be built nearbyand occupy about 300,000 square feet.

Oppenheimer said the benefits to Cupertino residents wouldbe new sidewalks, bike lanes and other street improvements.

A solar power installation is in the plans, and Oppenheimersaid Campus 2 would use only renewable power.

Apple bought most of the land for the campus from HewlettPackard, where late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs got oneof his first summer jobs after calling HP founder Bill Hewlettto ask for spare parts.

Jobs had personally shown the architectural plans for thenew campus to the Cupertino city council last June, despitebeing ill at the time.

"It's a little like a spaceship landed," Jobs had said ofthe circular building with its massive interior courtyard.